Obama: White House Limo Won't Go Green

By: Peter Maer
Topics: White House

(Credit: United States Secret Service)

Updated 6:14 p.m. ET

President Obama has ordered a tripling of the number of hybrid vehicles in the federal fleet but the best known government car won't "go green." As he took questions at a North Carolina plant that makes battery components for hybrid cars, the president was asked about prospects for an electric-powered White House limousine.

Mr. Obama revealed that when he first received Secret Service protection, he asked if he could ride in a hybrid vehicle.

But his protectors rejected the idea. The president told his audience, "It's because the cars that I'm in are like tanks." Without going into detail, he said "there's a little bit of extra stuff on there."

(Credit: AP)

He estimated the super-sized Cadillacs are two or three times heavier than an average car. The president also often rides in big SUVs. Mr. Obama told his questioner the presidential vehicles couldn't accelerate using a hybrid engine.

When agents open the limo doors, the armor plating and thick protective glass confirm the president's description that "they're a little reinforced." Other communications and defensive features that remain classified add to the weight. Secret Service agents refer to the big car as "the beast."

The current custom-built black Cadillacs went into service on January 20, 2009, the day Mr. Obama was inaugurated.

(CBS)

Peter Maer is a CBS News White House correspondent for CBS Radio News. You can read more of his posts in Hotsheet here.

Peter Maer
Peter Maer is a CBS News White House Correspondent.
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by Uranus_Speaks April 3, 2010 4:00 PM EDT

Peter Maer gets my vote for correspondent of the year!

Regarding the article, White House Limo Won't Go Green, is there any truth to the reports that the limo had a condom dispenser that was ordered installed a former president?

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by pasmalltown April 4, 2010 1:55 PM EDT: Heard a rumor that "it was" but it had strict instructions: To be used as a thinking cap ONLY when making top secret and illegal oil futures deals ..........


by pasmalltown April 3, 2010 10:23 AM EDT: This isn't about protecting Obama - it's about protecting the President of the United States and as such, the Obama haters who think this issue where Obama can be blamed are merely ignoring the truth once again. Keep on spewing, the rest of the world recognizes your agenda and it really demonstrates how child-like you really are.; Reply to this comment


by buildfences April 3, 2010 8:28 AM EDT: Just google the U.N.'s Agenda 21, and you will see how the elite want our country and people controlled

Grab more land....already done.

Attack fuels....happening now

US citizens should move to the cities where they work, leaving the open spaces for the elites.

Politicians that support the UN, are following their agenda...not the agenda of "we the people".; Reply to this comment


by Tiddah April 2, 2010 7:49 PM EDT: You people are idiots, you will criticize anything this president does or says. I am glad I not as negative as you are. Boy are the next 3 or 7 years going to be tough for you:(; Reply to this comment

by debinok1 April 2, 2010 7:49 PM EDT

Maybe if our Presidents were not under constant threat of attack they would be able to be more "green". With President Obama it is even worse as we have many who would like to remove him from office just because of his race. The protection of our President trumps the green movement.

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by stown6654 April 4, 2010 5:30 PM EDT: Please! Stop with the race nonsense. It's getting very old.
As much as I dislike his policies, he IS the President, and needs protection just like the Presidents that came before him.

You are fooling yourself if you think the reason MOST Americans aren't too fond of this guy is because he is black...or half black.
Most of us are centrists that lean to the right, whether you like it or not. CBS's own recent polls prove that, especially since they were conducted by such a liberal organization.

So whine away about how conservatives hate Obama because he is black. It won't help, because it is not true.

And you should probably go back to HuffPo, you will be more comfortable there. All the real racists are over there anyhow.


by jason98466 April 2, 2010 7:44 PM EDT: It is an armored vehicle. It requires power and speed.; Reply to this comment


by kaviz April 2, 2010 7:39 PM EDT: gayway and stephan are you that ignorant to think our country would put the prez in a Geo Metro? In the words of Bugs Bunny, " What a bunch of Maroons."; Reply to this comment


by GeWay April 2, 2010 6:31 PM EDT: Isn't this just like the health plan just passed by the Obama administration? It is for everyone else, but the President's family is exempt. They have a much better plan. So everyone else, you drive hybrids, but as for me and my house, we'll stick to the big cars, thank you.; Reply to this comment